Theatre enthusiasts attend masterclass in Germiston
Her talent has transcended borders, with performances in Egypt, Rome and New York.
The Dumisani Masilela Theatre hosted an exclusive physical theatre masterclass featuring the multi-talented Mpume Mthombeni.
The Germiston-based theatre invited performing art enthusiasts to attend the January 26 event.
It featured an immersive exploration of the art of physical theatre under the guidance of this industry icon.
Known for her roles in TV shows such as Z’bondiwe, Ring of Lies, Uzalo and Imbewu, Mthombeni established herself as a versatile artist with an even stronger presence on the theatrical stage.
Beyond her television success, her theatrical repertoire includes performances in Animal Farm, Soil and Ash, NewFoundLand, Ulwembu, The Last Country and Lalela uLwandle.
Her talent has transcended borders, with performances in Egypt, Rome and New York.
Participants in the physical theatre masterclass expected a comprehensive exploration of both fundamental and advanced techniques guided by Mthombeni’s expertise.
“We examined a method known as laban movement analysis, a technique created by Ruben von Laban that stimulates intellect through movement and bases movement on a variety of features.”
He classified movement into four distinct groups.
“The goal of physical theatre is to tell a story with our bodies. A great deal of improvisation is required. In physical theatre, gestures and movement are crucial, which is why laban methods are used,” said Mthombeni.
Laban examined direction, weight, space, and time and how performers embody these elements.
“It’s exciting to work with young people because they provide fresh perspectives, inventive ideas, and creative solutions. Attending seminars is essential for performers to keep proficient in their art.”
In addition to becoming a director at Empatheatre, Mthombeni recently extended her work to KwaZulu Natal’s shore.
“Empatheatre is a research-based, theatre-making methodology that emerged from friendship and solidarity between artists, academic researchers and responsive citizens.
“The process begins with extensive action-based research in which co-participants and key partners work to identify matters of concern and a pressing central question.
“Performances are then rolled out to strategic audiences. Audiences are made up of people with different levels of agency, power and privilege in relation to the matter of concern.
“Post-play facilitated dialogues with the audience allow for another layer of reflexive data to emerge in relation to the problem of concern.
“In this way Empatheatre is a method of conducting and publicly interrogating research that democratises the way in which we surface and co-create knowledge,” said Mthombeni.
Her next destination is the Mbazwana Art Centre in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal.
“They are planning a play that addresses social issues in the community, which they will perform while on a coast tour. It explains the relocation of people in order to build a public park.
“As I did at the UN last year, I will be travelling and giving speeches. I will also be giving a major presentation in Spain.
“There’s also the Isidla Mlilo-Fire Eater tour, which is based on a true story. The story takes place in the early 1980s, during the IFP and ANC political war. It centres on a lady who, at the time, worked as a hit-man and an assassinator for IFP,” said Mthombeni.
